Groove Tools

by Conklin
“The Real Deal’’

Featuring
the Incredible
Bill Dickens
Signature Model
See Page 3.
The Right tools for the job… Groove Tools Specifications
Just about the time Bill Conklin was preparing to graduate from
high school in the early 80’s, he had a vision; to put the most
incredible instruments on the planet in the hands of virtually any
player. The music scene was alive, guitars were hot and Bill’s mind
GT-4 GT-5 GT-7 GT-BD7
was racing with ideas for some of his original designs. After shop- Construction Bolted Neck Bolted Neck Bolted Neck Neck-Through Body
ping his ideas around to a few of the big guitar companies and get-
ting the cold shoulder he decided the only way to get it done was Scale Length 34" 34" 34" 34"
to do it himself. So, armed with everything he needed, (except
No. of Frets 24 Med Jumbo 24 Med Jumbo 24 Med Jumbo 24 Med Jumbo
money, tools, training and a place to set up shop) Bill started Conklin
Guitars in the summer of 1984. Fingerboard
Radius 16" 16" 16" 16"
Though most of his early work involved repairs and refinishing of
Hardware
other brands, he was slowly able to shift the balance until Color Black Black Black Gold
eventually he and his crew were doing nothing but building
custom guitars. Electronics Conklin Active Conklin Active Bartolini Active Bartolini "Bill
Pickups with Pickups with Pickups with Dickens" Model
Bill Conklin (left) Volume, Volume, Volume Pickups with
and Blend Bass and Blend Bass and Blend, Bass & Custom
partner Phil Treble Controls Treble Controls Treble Controls Bartolini
Goschy have cre- Parametric
ated some of the Frequency
world's most inno- Selector,
vative and highly Brilliance
sought after cus- Control,
tom Volume,
instruments. Blend & Full EQ
Groove Tool bass-
es are Woods 5 pc Wenge/ 5 pc Wenge/ 7 pc Wenge/ 7 pc Maple/
patterned Purpleheart Purpleheart Purpleheart Purpleheart
after Bill's neck with neck with neck with neck with
Sidewinder Purpleheart Purpleheart Purpleheart Purpleheart
bodystyle. fingerboard*. fingerboard*. fingerboard*. fingerboard*.
Swamp Swamp Swamp Swamp
Ash Body with Ash Body with Ash Body with Ash Body wings
Figured Maple Figured Maple Figured Maple with Curly Maple
Over the years Bill and his crew continuously refined and improved top. top. top. top.
their product line, adding many new models and even coming up
with several innovations that were totally exclusive in the industry.
Finish Cellophane Wine Cellophane Wine Cellophane Wine Purpleburst or
Through total dedication and endless hours of hard work The or Clear Hard or Clear Hard or Clear Hard or Clear Hard
Finish Finish Finish Finish
Conklin name has garnered a reputation of being one of the world’s
finest instruments. And now, with the introduction of Groove Tools *Also available with Fretless Ebonal Fingerboard.
by Conklin, Bill Conklin’s designs and innovations are available to Specifications subject to change without notice.
everyone and his vision has become a reality.

2 7
“New ” Fretless Groove Tools The best names on the job…
9
for 9 Since his start back in the 70’s touring with Ramsey Lewis, Bill
Groove Tools fretless basses feature composite ebonal Dickens has shared the stage or studio with the “who’s who” of vir-
fingerboards for extreme durability, tually every genre of music and has been touted by the very biggest
superior rigidity and a wonderful singing sustain. names in the business as being the best bass player on the planet.
“The Buddha of the Bass”

We are extremely delighted to

offer you a replica of the bass
that Billy has become famous
for. The awesome Groove Tools
Bill Dickens Signature Model.

“These basses are the

Bill' "The Buddha" Dickens with his signa-
ture model GTBD-7.
culmination of a dream for
me…working with a luthier like
Bill Conklin who has a gift for
creating such incredible instru-
ments; and the distribution and
marketing experts at
Westheimer Corporation has
made it all possible. Now the
best basses in the whole world
are available to the whole
world.”
—Bill Dickens

rs
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ChrC raael Fatheub aurge
M hS ic h
r is Nya - Me band
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Fem iScehvaeerlin
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Chri maistSoarinoyu in - Dian
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GT-4FL F elFixe P
is Se
ve r
Chr es
s
Reev astoriou
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Feli vens
. Ste
GT-5FL T. M

Bill's signature model seven string allows him to "stretch out" and
showcase his amazing command
GT-7FL of the electric bass.
6 3
 veryone dreams of owning the best. And while each player has his or

E her personal preference of what makes an instrument best for them;

virtually all agree that Conklin guitars and
basses are the stuff their dreams are
Tone rich lightweight ash bod-
ies are topped with exquisite
figured maple; outfitted with
active
made of. electronics and finished off
Well, WAKE UP because with Conklin’s
Groove Tools by Conklin is your dream trademark locking
come true. These beautiful instruments input jacks.
incorporate all of the superior features
Bill Conklin’s famous handmade
custom instruments have become Each multi-laminate
known for: neck is constructed of The Bill
• Elegantly sculpted bodystyles incredibly stable wenge Dickens sig-
• Exquisite exotic woods and purpleheart; carved nature model
• Versatile electronics to an extremely features a
• Superior playability comfortable profile. 7-piece
• Incredible GT-5 Headstocks are angled maple/
purpleheart
craftsmanship back to increase ten-
• Rugged sion over the nut and improve sustain. Truss rods are easily adjusted with neck-through-
dependability no covers to remove, and a volute is added on the back of the body
The only difference headstock for added strength. Conklin’s exclusive construction,
you’ll find between “Off-Sides” position markers are easily visible from gold
a Groove Tool both the top and the side of the fingerboard. hardware,
and its hand- totally
made counter- custom Bartolini
part is the price. pickups and
So grab a Beautifully contoured neck heels are tapered com- electronics and
GROOVE pletely into the neck for Bill's own color
TOOL totally unobstructed access to all scheme; a
and 24 frets. The upper edge of the body is uniquely cellophane
LIVE THE contoured to be aesthetically pleasing and highly purpleburst finish.
DREAM!! comfortable. The (A natural clearcoat
split control cavity allows easy one finish is
screw battery changes. ▼ also available).

IT'S THE
DREAM
MACHINE!

GT-7 GT-4 GTBD-7

 See the full line of
Groove Tools
basses & guitars
at a dealer
near you.

Dealer, Distributor Inquiries Contact:

Eric Fuchsman, Westheimer Corporation
3451 W. Commercial Ave., Northbrook, IL 60062
Ph: (847) 498-9850 • Fax: (847) 498-5370
Copyright 1998 Conklin Guitars 2
$ 00
www.conklinguitars.com